It is that very number of genres that ruined westerns. When Dracula, aliens and inaccurate scenes started making their way into western movies more and more, the good westerns lost their audience. I must say that it's been a long time since I saw a good western movie.

Last truly good one I saw (apart from the many I have on VHS and DVD) was Unforgiven. Slow burner until the last fifteen minutes, worth it for those fifteen minutes alone. Great film. Before that, Pale Rider. Haven't seen a really good one since, although 3:10 to Yuma wasn't bad at all.

Remake of True Grit suffered mostly from the fact that it was a remake - of one of the most iconic of Westerns; it was actually a very laudable film in many ways and if the John Wayne version had never existed, would stand quite well, but unfortunately I could not watch a second of it without thinking "this was better in the original.." Shame because I really wanted to like it.

Remake of True Grit suffered mostly from the fact that it was a remake - of one of the most iconic of Westerns; it was actually a very laudable film in many ways and if the John Wayne version had never existed, would stand quite well, but unfortunately I could not watch a second of it without thinking "this was better in the original.." Shame because I really wanted to like it.

I think the remake of True Grit will wear well with time. I love the original and John Wayne, but it is cartoon to some extent (the Grand Tetons as Oklahoma?). I think that as we with a direct connection to Wayne drop off, the remake will look better to the next generation.

Rio Bravo was on the telly one afternoon recently. When you're stuck at home hardly able to move, it's nice when they put something else on other than reality/chat/property/cookery/antique shows. Angie Dickinson in it too.

I agree, the John Wayne westerns are masterpieces of popular art. In fact it was a John Wayne film that first introduced me to what I call the director's "eye" - how composition and lighting in a shot can tell you the whole story in a moment of understanding. The Searchers, final shot in the doorway when Ethan stands there alone, doesn't come in but is just silhouetted and turns away. I was only 11 but I got it right there and then. Wonderfully made film, real work of art.